Archived information

This Web page has been archived on the Web. Archived information is provided for reference, research or record keeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Archived

Overview

On October 1, 2010, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) announced it would support the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs (APC) and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) in leading national engagement activities to discuss their recommendations for a new election process for First Nations in Canada.

To develop their recommendations, the APC and the AMC consulted their respective constituencies, soliciting their views in the development of options for improving the conduct and management of band council elections. During the national engagement effort, these organizations presented their recommendations, which called for new and optional legislation for elections, affording four year terms and addressing many of the issues with the Indian Act election system, to First Nations leaders and organizations across the country.

On March 31, 2011, following the engagement sessions, the APC and the AMC issued separate reports, detailing the engagement process and the responses, comments and reactions they heard. The summary engagement reports will be posted on this page in the near future. Subsequently, AANDC committed to developing new legislation on First Nations elections based on many of the recommendations.

In early August 2011, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development wrote to the Chief and Council of the 241 First Nations who hold their elections under the Indian Act election system informing them that a bill on First Nations elections was in the process of being drafted. A document that outlined the contents of the draft bill accompanied this letter. In his letter, the Minister encouraged band councils to provide their comments directly to the Department by September 9, 2011, and to share the document with their community members, who were also invited to share their views.